Photographic type composing



March 31, 1936. E UHER 2,036,000

PHOTOGRAPHI C TYPE COMPOSING F" ed Jan. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 3 R /1 .1 2 5 arw-luL 2(534/ 4W March 31, 1936.

E. UHER PHOTOGRAPHIG TYPE COMPOSING Filed Jan. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l||| l im IIHIIIII mum Patented .Mar. 31, t 1936 PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSIN G Edmond Uher, Munich, Germany, assignor to Uhertype Aktiengesellschaft, Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application January 17, 1935, Serial No. 2,155 In Germany January 23, 1934 ficlaims.

My invention relates to a method of and means for photographic type composing, where a definite photographic representation of pages of type matter to be reproduced directly or in the form v 5 of a printing surface in its made up or page form is produced by photographing step by step type matter in the form of lines or like letterpress units ready for reproduction, gauging means arranged according to a system of two co-ordinates 19 being provided for locating the letterpress units accurately in correct relationship with respect to one another during their photographic reproduction to produce the representation of the printing surface in its made up form.

15 In a known process the letterpress units are provided on individual loose carriers, each carrier being provided with gauging means arranged according to a definite system of two co-ordinates, said carriers being applied to a support 20 having corresponding gauging means, so as to locate the carriers" accurately on the said support according to the said two co-ordinates. Such a procedure allows of unlimited flexibility and variations of the type matter but suffers from the 25 disadvantage that owing to the enormous quantity of loose separate carriers for the letterpress units, the provision of mechanical collecting means is necessary in order that they can be preliminarily arranged and correctly handled, and

that the direct carriers of the type matter necessitate relatively large blank surfaces, so that the waste of material is very heavy.

It has also been proposed to produce printing surface by attaching in parallel columns to a 35 glass-plate film strips bearing representations of the type matter, the attachment being effected by engagement of perforations in the edges of the film strips with pins fast on the plate, and photographing the film strips in one operation. The

40 columns of type matter on the film strips must .have the same line spacing and the same col- -umn margins as those of the page to be produced,

so that with the very small spaces between the lines or the columns which will in most cases 45 occur, it is practically impossible to handle and divide up the type matter without damaging it. While faulty parts may be cut out and replaced by correct pieces, the separate lines can themselves no longer be adjusted and where, as is 5 generally the case, any correction necessitates a complete rearrangement, since in most cases, instead of a single line, several lines may have to be inserted or a certain number of lines may have to be replaced bya smaller number of lines,

55 the length of the already mounted strip would in each case have to be altered. To this must be added the drawback that in the carrying out of I the photographic reproduction, it is not possible to alter the degree of enlargement locally and that the attachment means have to be photo- 5 graphed along with the type matter. Furthermore, the pins and perforations for attaching the film strips to the glass plate make no allowance for any possible extension of the film strip.

The present invention has for its object to eliminate the mechanical assembling of the lines into column form and to reduce the waste of film or other material on which the lines of type matter are provided while at the same time preserving the flexibility of the process and permitting of correction, interposition, alteration, embellishment, and so on, in any desired manner. With this object in view the invention consists in a photographic type composing process in which the final photographic representation of the type matter in its made up or page form is produced by photographing step by step type'matter in the form of lines or like letterpress units ready for reproduction, provided directly on a common carrier in groups one below the other with a con- 5 stant optional line spacing to form a roughly set up column, the common carrier being provided with gauging means arranged according to a system of two co-ordinates for each of the letterpress units for accurately locating the letterpress units in correct relationship with respect to one another during their photographic reproduction to produce the representation of the printing surface in its made up form, the said gauging means being arranged in alignment one below the other in the direction of the one co-ordinate and being parallel to one another in the direction of the other co-ordinate.

The lack of flexibility which might otherwise be imposed on the process because of the letterpress units being preliminarily arranged in column form is thus avoided due to two reasons.

If the letterpress units be aligned in the exposing position during the photographic reproduction with the aid of the gauging means provided on the common carrier for each separate letterpress unit, the photographic reproduction can be effected step by step with a similar freedom and with the same accuracy as if the letterpress units were provided on separate carriers assem- 60 bled on a support, all that need be done according to the present invention being to advance the common carrier of the column of letterpress units so as to bring the successive units into the operative position, each unit being located by means of its gauging means independently of the gauging means for the other units, so that the carrier can have sufiicient freedom of motion to align or set itself always exclusively by the appropriate gauging means.

The distance between the lines of type matter on the common carrier, may be different from that of the lines of the'final photographic reprocluction, a constant spacing between the lines of the rough column being preferably selected, which entails no waste of material, such as film for the carrier but which is wide enough to enable the carrier to be easily severed between the lines and pieced together. The piecing together can be effected without any detriment to typographical accuracy if the places where the carrier is pieced together are located by means of the gauging means of a number of adjacent letterpress units.

If the letterpress units are normally to be reproduced in the same small size of type while only in certain places is the type required to be of larger size, which is effected by varying the scale of reproduction while the page is being photographically produced, the invention has the advantage that the waste of film or other material forming the common carrier is again reduced and that the gauging means of the carriers can be standardized. This is accompanied by the additional and, by no means unimportant advantage, particularly in the case of carriers comprising light-sensitive film bands on which the letterpress units are set up photographically, that the gauging means, such as gauge holes for the successive letterpress units in the columngcan be provided beforehand in the carriers before producing on them the letterpress units. In this way the compositor is relieved of the work of perforating the film and the gauge holes can be set out beforehand with the greatest accuracy during the manufacture of the film.

As will hereinafter be more fully explained, the size of the free margins of the column of letterpress units can be independent of the size of the margins of-the photographic representation of the type matter in its made up page-form, so i of the particular unit i will be perfectly accuthat the size of margin for the column of letterpress units can be chosen which willbe most con-v venient for the handling of the letterpress units.

The accompanying drawings show diagrammatically several examples of different means for carrying out the process according to this invention. Fig. 1 is a view of part of a column of let'- terpress units on a common carrier on an enlarged scale. Figs. 2 to 7 and 10 are fragmentary views of different letterpress unit carriers. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a splicing table. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through part of a feed device for guiding the letterpress unit carrier during the photographic reproduction of the type matter. Fig. 10 is a view of a normal continuous column broken apart. Figs. 11 to 16 are views of different photographic representations of the type matter in its made up form.

According to Fig. lthe letterpress units l, which are photographs of lines are provided on a film band 2. The gauging means of the'first line are the round hole 3 and the elongated hole 4 in each of which enters a round pin 5. The centres of the two holes 3, 4 are on astraight line, the base line S and the eft hand marginal line R being in each case disposed at fixed distances X and Y from these centres. unit I is located perfectly accurately according to two co-ord'inates, so that for instance from Thus the,

the position of the two holes 3, 4 it is possible when using any given reproducing'camera to ensure that the images of the letterpress units will be successively projected with certainty in the correct position on the light-sensitive carrier of the photographic representation of the type matter in its made up form. The hole 4 is an elongated hole which allows the film band 2 'to expand in width without afiecting the accuracy of adjustment.

The second line has as gauging means two square holes 6 in which the four-cornered pins I and 8 engage. The holes 6 follow at a pitch distance T after the two holes 3, 4 and the position of the second line image is adjusted with respect to the centres of the two holes 6 also in accordance with the two fixed distances X and Y. The film band 2 is in this case again engaged rigidly only with respect to the left hand gauge hole 6, while on the right-hand side it is held yieldingly in the direction of the common centre line of the two gauge holes 6 through the hole 8 being made narrower than the pin 6 in this direction, that is to say in the direction of the length of the line or width of the type matter. Thus the film band 2 is free to expand in width, even when both gauge holes are of the same size. It may also be mentioned that such an expansion can be provided for by the gauge holes at the side of the column where the film band is free to expand andbeing engaged by a springloaded finger or the like which seeks to spread the pairs of gauge holes in. question gently apart and thereby tighten the band.

Any number of units l and corresponding gauge hole 3, 4 or 6 may follow one below the other on the film band 2 to form a column.

Fig. 2 shows a letterpress unit carrier 2 with gauge holes 3 arranged in one continuous line along one edge thereof. If each unit I be, for instance, adjusted in position in such a manner that the adjacent three holes 3 are engaged at ,the'same time by three pins 5 and if the pins 5 extend accurately inalignment in the direction of the column length, the geometrical position rately defined. The compositor makes a mark 9 atthe first line of the column and another mark I0 at the last line, so that he is always guided as to the setting out of the carrier 2, even before the undeveloped line images become visible. Fig. 2 shows that at the beginning and end of the column of line units there is an empty line in each case so that it becomes possible to adjust both the first line and the last line by the associated three holes 3., The single-row marginal perforation is particularly suitable for narrow letterpress unit carriers and has the advantage that the feed mechanism for advancing the carrier during the reproduction will not require readjustment, even if the column width should vary within certain limits. A further advantage is that the carrier can expand freely in the line direction.

Similar advantages are shown by the carrier i 2 according to Fig. 3, which is provided with a double row of gauge holes 6 disposed along one margin thereof. In this case the two pins I, which lie in the line direction, suffice for accurately adjusting and advancing the particular unit I, such carriers 2 being suitable for wider columns than those according to Fig. 2. From Fig. 3 it will be seen that it is not necessary to leave blank line spaces either at the beginning or at the endo! the column. The pairs of holes are so close together that any expansion in the t1 ansverse direction of the narrow film strip lying between them can have no detrimental eflect.

The common carrier 2 according to Fig. 4 differs from that according to Fig. 3 mainly in this that the gauge holes 3, 4 are arranged in single rows along the two margins of the same. Such carriers 2, which are adapted for; the greatest column widths that are likely to occur, are preferably initially perforated for the different column widths according to graded standard widths. The means provided on the reproduction apparatus for co-operation with one vertical row oi perforations are made adjustable in accordance with the length of line, that is to say, the width of the column unit, so that carriers 2 of different widths can be fed forward with the same feed mechanism.

It will be seen from Figs. 2 to 4 that carriers 2 of a great variety of column widths have the same fixed line spacing owing to the standard size of type of the units with the same feed motion. Each feed movement bringsonly one line image into .the projection gate of the reproducing apparatus which has to uncover nothing more than the particular line image in question. The single line feed allows of freedom in the photographic reproduction where, for instance, one line can be enlarged independently of the others, and does away with the danger of any irregularities which may occur being added to one another. The accuracy of the edges of the common carrier is of no importance in view of the locating of the lines by means of the gauge holes.

Rough proofs may be taken from the roughly set up columns on the carriers 2 by contact print= ing, in which there is sumcient space for indicating the corrections in the spaces between the lines. The lines to be corrected may be set up in a separate correction column which is placed in the reproduction position at the lines in ques= tion instead of the column on the carrier 2. it it should be preferred, however, to correct the continuous column on the carrier 2 itself, the

' lines to be corrected will have to be removed and replaced in any suitable way by the fresh lines. Fig. 5 shows how a T-shaped piece ll bearing a freshline, which can of itself be adjusted in position, is inserted correctly in a carrier 2 or the kind, shown in Fig. 2. The piece I l is stuck to the rest of the carrier by means of the head part and, if necessary, also by means of the strip H, the holes 3 remaining in position and the locating pins 5 acting normally. Larger fresh pieces 13 are inserted with transverse strips it and longitudinal strips l2 which are stuck to the emulsionless sideof the carrier or to both sides thereof.

Fig. 6 shows the piecing together of a column carrier 2, such as that shown in Fig. 3. Single parts and larger parts l2 which can be independently adjusted in position by means of their gauge holes are stuck on with the aid of strips l2 and It. It is also possible to stick in larger surface l6 which, while they cover onepr more line images, are nevertheless stuck togetherwith an adhesive so transparent that they have no appreciable effect on the transparency of the line images in question. The strips and adhesive surfaces do not interfere with the gauge holes.-

Fig. 7 shows the piecing together of a rough column carrier 2, such as that shown in Figure 4.

The inserted pieces Ii, l3 and the strips I4 are like those above described. H-shaped pieces I! may also be inserted which can be stuck in without separate strips.

The piecing together is best-carried out on a smooth table top I8, as shown in Figure 8, which is provided with sufllcient positioning members I9 for enabling the fresh pieces and the original pieces tobe accurately positioned with respect to one another. One or more positioning members IQ of the piecing table I8 are depressible and are spring-controlled at in order to enable cutting rulers to be placed on the rough column carrier 2 and to apply any suitable pressing means for smoothing the strips l4 and the like.

Fig. 9 shows how loose loops are left in the column carrier 2 which is advanced by the locating pins or teeth 2| engaging in the gauge holes, before and after the guiding members 22, 23, in order that each separate adjustment of the same shall be affected only by the gauge holes 3 and the locating pins or teeth 2!.

Fig. 10 shows a normal continuous column of letterpress units and Figs. 11 to 16 show how with such a column all sorts of type matter 24 can be set up by a purely photographic reproduction.

The length of the column is immaterial-as regards the actual work, so that neither the piecing together nor the longitudinal expansion can have any effect. The latter could only have any effect for instance as regards one portion T, which however may be regarded as negligible in every case.

The compositor can out off the column carrier 2 by marks in any case and pass it on for development or any other treatment. As the column carrier is engaged mechanically only for single line feed movements and for this purpose only by the gauging means of one single line, there will be no dimcuity even with the shortest pieces as regards threading them into the feed mechanism and guiding them, any danger due to backlash being fully provided ior. The reduction in the waste oi him and the columnar form itseii render the wet photographic treatment of the units easy and cheap and what is of still greater importance is that by this means the machine for the photographic setting up of the units is also made very simple and cheap.

Finaliyit may remarked that as compared with the cinematcgraphic him bands which are also preperiorateri (quite apart from the fact that they are used for a totally diherent purpose and that the photographically produced matter can be freely set up in'pagesi there is this further fundamental difierence that the position of the cinematographic images is independent of the perforations in the film, whiie according to the invention there is such a positive relationship between the gauge hoies and the rough column that the rough column can be corrected and accurately pieced together by the usual checking impressions typed along with it, even immediately after vexposure and before development.

I claim as my invention:

1. A photographic type composing probes for producing the representation of the printing surface in its made up or page form which comprises photographically setting up step by step type matter in the form of lines or like letterpress units ready for reproduction directly on a common light-sensitive carrier in groups one below the other-with a constant optional line spacing to form a roughly set up column, said common carrier being provided with gauging means arranged according to a system of two co-ordinates for each of the letterpress units for locating the letterpress allel to one another in the direction of the other co-ordinate.

2. The process as specified in claim 1, in which said light-sensitive carrier is adjusted duringthe setting up of the letterpress units so as to bring the successive units into the exposure position only by the gauging means provided for each individual unit, said carrier being otherwise left relatively free.

3. The process as specified in claim 1, in which said carrier is adjusted during the setting up of the letterpress units so as to bring the successive units into'exposure position only by the gauging means provided for'each individual unit and in which the letterpress units are normally set up on said carrier in a constant small size type and different sizes of type in the made up pages are obtained by varying the degree of enlargement when reproducing the units to form the page.

4. The process as specified in claim 1, in which said carrier, when in the reproducing position, is adjusted from one unit to another, in accordance individual unit, but is otherwise left relatively free.

5. The process as specified in claim 1, in which said carrier, when in the reproducing position, is adjusted from one unit to another in accordance with the gauging means only provided for each individual unit and in which said carrier is engaged unyieldingly by one of a pair of gauging means but is engaged by the other gauging means so as to be capable of yielding in the directionof the common centre line of the pair of gauging means.

6. The process as specified in claim 1, in which said carrier when in the reproducing position is adjusted from one unit to another in accordance with the gauging means only provided for each individual unit, and in which said carrier is engaged unyieldingly by one of a pair of gauging means but is engaged by the other gauging means so as to be capable of yielding in the direction of the common center line of the pair of gauging means, the gauging means to be engaged in a yielding manner being subjected to the action of a. spring-controlled member tending to spread the gauging means apart and tension the carrier.

' EDMOND UI-IER. 

